구

구 U+AD6C, 구 HANGUL SYLLABLE GU Composition: ㄱ + ㅜ ← 굫 [U+AD6B] Hangul Syllables 국 → [U+AD6D]

See also: -구-, and -구

(see above for verbal suffixes)

See also: 子

구국굮굯군굱굲 굳굴굵굶굷굸굹 굺굻굼굽굾굿궀 궁궂궃궄궅궆궇
교 ←	→ 궈

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 九 (“nine”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ku]
• Phonetic hangul: [구]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gu
McCune–Reischauer?	ku
Yale Romanization?	kwu

Numeral

Korean numbers ^(edit)

	90
←  8	9	10  →
Native isol.: 아홉 (ahop)     Native attr.: 아홉 (ahop)     Sino-Korean: 구 (gu)     Hanja: 九     Ordinal: 아홉째 (ahopjjae)

구 • (gu) (hanja 九)

1. (Sino-Korean numeral) nine

Usage notes

In modern Korean, numbers are usually written in Arabic numerals.

The Korean language has two sets of numerals: a native set of numerals inherited from Old Korean, and a Sino-Korean set which was borrowed from Middle Chinese in the first millennium C.E.

Native classifiers take native numerals.

• 개 한 마리 (gae han mari, “one dog”, native numeral)
• 나무 두 그루 (namu du geuru, “two trees”, native numeral)

Some Sino-Korean classifiers take native numerals, others take Sino-Korean numerals, while yet others take both.

• 종이 두 장(張) (jong'i du jang, “two sheets of paper”, native numeral)
• 이 분(分) (i bun, “two minutes”, Sino-Korean numeral)
• 서른/삼십 명(名) (seoreun/samsip myeong, “thirty people”, both sets possible)

Recently loaned classifiers generally take Sino-Korean numerals.

• 일 킬로미터 (il killomiteo, “one kilometer”, Sino-Korean numeral)

For many terms, a native numeral has a quantifying sense, whereas a Sino-Korean numeral has a sense of labeling.

• 세 반(班) (se ban, “three school classes”, native numeral)
• 삼 반(班) (sam ban, “Class Number Three”, Sino-Korean numeral)

When used in isolation, native numerals refer to objects of that number and are used in counting and quantifying, whereas Sino-Korean numerals refer to the numbers in a more mathematical sense.

• 하나만 더 주세요 (hana-man deo juse-yo, “Could you give me just one more, please”, native numeral)
• 일 더하기 일은? (il deohagi ir-eun?, “What's one plus one?”, Sino-Korean numeral)

While older stages of Korean had native numerals up to the thousands, native numerals currently exist only up to ninety-nine, and Sino-Korean is used for all higher numbers. There is also a tendency—particularly among younger speakers—to uniformly use Sino-Korean numerals for the higher tens as well, so that native numerals such as 일흔 (ilheun, “seventy”) or 아흔 (aheun, “ninety”) are becoming less common.

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 九 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (九, gu).

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 球 (“ball, sphere”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ku]
• Phonetic hangul: [구]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gu
McCune–Reischauer?	ku
Yale Romanization?	kwu

Noun

구 • (gu) (hanja 球)

1. sphere

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 球 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (球, gu).

See also

• 공 (gong, “ball”)

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 舊 (“former, old”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ku(ː)]
• Phonetic hangul: [구(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gu
McCune–Reischauer?	ku
Yale Romanization?	kwū

Determiner

구 • (gu) (hanja 舊)

1. former; defunct

   Antonym: 신(新) (sin, “new”)

   구시대 ― gusidae ― former period; bygone period

   구 소련 ― gu Soryeon ― the former Soviet Union

Usage notes

• Before most common nouns, it is written without spaces as a prefix.

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 舊 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (舊, gu).

Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 區 (“area, district”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ku]
• Phonetic hangul: [구]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gu
McCune–Reischauer?	ku
Yale Romanization?	kwu

Noun

구 • (gu) (hanja 區)

1. ward, district; administrative division of a large city.

Coordinate terms

• (Administrative divisions of South Korea) 리(里) (ri), 동(洞) (dong), 면(面) (myeon), 읍(邑) (eup), 구(區) (gu), 군(郡) (gun), 시(市) (si), 도(道) (do)

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 區 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (區, gu).

Etymology 5

Sino-Korean word from 具 (“classifier for coffins, corpses”).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ku]
• Phonetic hangul: [구]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gu
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gu
McCune–Reischauer?	ku
Yale Romanization?	kwu

Counter

구 • (gu) (hanja 具)

1. Used to count corpses.

Usage notes

• Usually takes native numerals.

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 具 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (具, gu).

Proper noun

구 • (Gu) (hanja 具)

1. a surname

Etymology 6

Sino-Korean word from 口 (“mouth, hole”).

Counter

구 • (gu) (hanja 口)

1. (obsolete) Used to count family members.

Suffix

—구 • (-gu) (hanja 口)

1. gateway

   ‎출입(出入) (churip, “coming and going”) + ‎구(口) (gu) → ‎출입구(出入口) (churipgu, “entrance/exit”)

   ‎비상(非常) (bisang, “emergency”) + ‎구(口) (gu) → ‎비상구(非常口) (bisanggu, “emergency exit”)

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 口 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (口, gu).

Etymology 7

Sino-Korean word from 俱 (“tool”).

Suffix

—구 • (-gu) (hanja 俱)

1. tool for...

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 俱 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (俱, gu).

Etymology 8

Sino-Korean word from 溝.

Numeral

구 • (gu) (hanja 溝)

1. (rare) the number 10³²

Derived terms

• See the hanja entry at 溝 for Sino-Korean compounds of 구 (溝, gu).

Etymology 9

Modern Korean reading of various Chinese characters.

Syllable

구 (gu)

More information

1. 丘: small hill

   (eumhun reading: 언덕 구 (eondeok gu))
   (MC reading: 丘 (MC khjuw))

2. 丠:

   (MC reading: 丠 (MC khjuw))

3. 丩:

   (MC reading: 丩 (MC kjuw))

4. 久: to be long

   (eumhun reading: 오랠 구 (orael gu))
   (MC reading: 久 (MC kjuwX))

5. 乆:

   (MC reading: 乆)

6. 九: nine

   (eumhun reading: 아홉 구 (ahop gu))
   (MC reading: 九 (MC kjuwX))

7. 仇:

   (MC reading: 仇 (MC gjuw))

8. 佉:

   (MC reading: 佉 (MC khja))

9. 佝:

   (MC reading: 佝 (MC xuwH))

10. 俅:

    (MC reading: 俅 (MC gjuw))

11. 俱: accompany, together

    (eumhun reading: 함께 구 (hamkke gu))
    (MC reading: 俱 (MC kju))

12. 倃:

    (MC reading: 倃 (MC kaw|gjuwX))

13. 傴:

    (MC reading: 傴 (MC 'juX))

14. 具: tool

    (eumhun reading: 갖출 구 (gatchul gu))
    (MC reading: 具 (MC gjuH))

15. 冓:

    (MC reading: 冓 (MC kuw|kuwH))

16. 劬:

    (MC reading: 劬 (MC gju))

17. 劶:

    (MC reading: 劶)

18. 勼:

    (MC reading: 勼 (MC kjuw))

19. 勾:

    (MC reading: 勾 (MC kuw|kuwH))

20. 匓:

    (MC reading: 匓)

21. 匛:

    (MC reading: 匛)

22. 匶:

    (MC reading: 匶 (MC gjuwH))

23. 区:

    (MC reading: 区)

24. 區: area; district; region; ward

    (eumhun reading: 구역 구 (guyeok gu))
    (MC reading: 區 (MC khju|'uw))

25. 厩:

    (MC reading: 厩)

26. 句: sentence; phrase

    (eumhun reading: 글귀 구 (geulgwi gu))
    (MC reading: 句 (MC gju|kuw|kjuH|kuwH))

27. 叴:

    (MC reading: 叴 (MC gjuw))

28. 呴:

    (MC reading: 呴 (MC xuwX|xjuH))

29. 咎:

    (MC reading: 咎 (MC kaw|gjuwX))

30. 嘔:

    (MC reading: 嘔 (MC 'uw|'uwX))

31. 坵:

    (MC reading: 坵)

32. 坸:

    (MC reading: 坸)

33. 垢:

    (MC reading: 垢 (MC kuwX))

34. 夻: a cod

    (eumhun reading: 대구 구 (daegu gu))
    (MC reading: 夻)

35. 姤:

    (MC reading: 姤 (MC kuwH))

36. 媾:

    (MC reading: 媾 (MC kuwH))

37. 柩: coffin

    (eumhun reading: 널 구 (neol gu))
    (MC reading: 柩 (MC gjuwH))

38. 枸:

    (MC reading: 枸 (MC kuw|kjuX|kuwX))

39. 昫:

    (MC reading: 昫 (MC xjuH))

40. 旧:

    (MC reading: 旧)

41. 救: save, rescue; help

    (eumhun reading: 건질 구 (geonjil gu))
    (MC reading: 救 (MC kjuwH))

42. 摳:

    (MC reading: 摳 (MC khju|khuw))

43. 搆:

    (MC reading: 搆 (MC kuwH))

44. 捄:

    (MC reading: 捄 (MC kju|gjuw))

45. 拘: restrain, seize, detain

    (eumhun reading: 잡을 구 (jabeul gu))
    (MC reading: 拘 (MC kju))

46. 拒:

    (MC reading: 拒 (MC gjoX))

47. 扣:

    (MC reading: 扣 (MC khuwX|khuwH))

48. 戵:

    (MC reading: 戵 (MC gju))

49. 懼: fear; be afraid of; dread

    (eumhun reading: 두려워할 구 (duryeowohal gu))
    (MC reading: 懼 (MC gjuH))

50. 彀:

    (MC reading: 彀 (MC kuwH))

51. 廐:

    (MC reading: 廐)

52. 廏: stable

    (eumhun reading: 마구간 구 (magugan gu))
    (MC reading: 廏)

53. 廄:

    (MC reading: 廄 (MC kjuwH))

54. 嶇:

    (MC reading: 嶇 (MC khju))

55. 岣:

    (MC reading: 岣 (MC kju|kuwX))

56. 屨:

    (MC reading: 屨 (MC kjuH))

57. 寇: bandit; thief; invader

    (eumhun reading: 도둑 구 (doduk gu))
    (MC reading: 寇 (MC khuwH))

58. 嫗:

    (MC reading: 嫗 (MC 'juH))

59. 柾:

    (MC reading: 柾)

60. 榘:

    (MC reading: 榘 (MC kjuX))

61. 構:

    (MC reading: 構 (MC kuwH))

62. 歐: Europe

    (eumhun reading: 구라파 구 (gurapa gu))
    (MC reading: 歐 (MC 'uw|'uwX))

63. 毆:

    (MC reading: 毆 (MC 'uwX))

64. 毬:

    (MC reading: 毬 (MC gjuw))

65. 求: request, wish

    (eumhun reading: 구할 구 (guhal gu))
    (MC reading: 求 (MC gjuw))

66. 溝:

    (MC reading: 溝 (MC kuw))

67. 漚:

    (MC reading: 漚 (MC 'uw|'uwH))

68. 灸:

    (MC reading: 灸 (MC kjuwX|kjuwH))

69. 狗: dog

    (eumhun reading: 개 구 (gae gu))
    (MC reading: 狗 (MC kuwX))

70. 玖:

    (MC reading: 玖 (MC kjuwX))

71. 球: ball

    (eumhun reading: 공 구 (gong gu))
    (MC reading: 球 (MC gjuw))

72. 璆: beautiful jade; twinkle

    (eumhun reading: 아름다운 옥 구 (areumdaun ok gu))
    (MC reading: 璆 (MC gjuw|gjiw))

73. 甌:

    (MC reading: 甌 (MC 'uw))

74. 疚:

    (MC reading: 疚 (MC kjuwH))

75. 痀:

    (MC reading: 痀 (MC kju))

76. 癯:

    (MC reading: 癯 (MC gju))

77. 瞿:

    (MC reading: 瞿 (MC gju|kjuH))

78. 矩:

    (MC reading: 矩 (MC kjuX))

79. 穀:

    (MC reading: 穀 (MC kuwk))

80. 究: examine, investigate

    (eumhun reading: 연구할 구 (yeon'guhal gu))
    (MC reading: 究 (MC kjuwH))

81. 窛:

    (MC reading: 窛)

82. 窶:

    (MC reading: 窶 (MC gjuX))

83. 篝: old

    (eumhun reading: 예 구 (ye gu))
    (MC reading: 篝 (MC kuw))

84. 糗: careless; illicit; if, but, if only

    (eumhun reading: 진실로 구 (jinsillo gu))
    (MC reading: 糗 (MC khjuwX))

85. 絿:

    (MC reading: 絿 (MC gjuw))

86. 耇:

    (MC reading: 耇 (MC kuwX))

87. 耈:

    (MC reading: 耈)

88. 耉:

    (MC reading: 耉)

89. 胊:

    (MC reading: 胊)

90. 臼:

    (MC reading: 臼 (MC gjuwX))

91. 舅:

    (MC reading: 舅 (MC gjuwX))

92. 舊:

    (MC reading: 舊 (MC gjuwH))

93. 苟:

    (MC reading: 苟 (MC kuwX))

94. 蒟:

    (MC reading: 蒟 (MC kjuX|kjuH))

95. 蚯:

    (MC reading: 蚯 (MC khjuw))

96. 衢:

    (MC reading: 衢 (MC gju))

97. 裘:

    (MC reading: 裘 (MC gjuw))

98. 覯:

    (MC reading: 覯 (MC kuwH))

99. 詬:

    (MC reading: 詬 (MC kuwX|khuwH|xuwH))

100. 謳:

     (MC reading: 謳 (MC 'uw))

101. 購:

     (MC reading: 購 (MC kuwH))

102. 軀: body

     (eumhun reading: 몸 구 (mom gu))
     (MC reading: 軀 (MC khju))

103. 逑:

     (MC reading: 逑 (MC gjuw))

104. 遘:

     (MC reading: 遘 (MC kuwH))

105. 邱:

     (MC reading: 邱 (MC khjuw))

106. 釦:

     (MC reading: 釦 (MC khuwX))

107. 鉤:

     (MC reading: 鉤 (MC kuw))

108. 銶:

     (MC reading: 銶 (MC gjuw))

109. 鞫:

     (MC reading: 鞫 (MC kjuwk))

110. 鞲:

     (MC reading: 鞲)

111. 韭:

     (MC reading: 韭 (MC kjuwX))

112. 韮:

     (MC reading: 韮)

113. 颶:

     (MC reading: 颶)

114. 駆:

     (MC reading: 駆)

115. 駈:

     (MC reading: 駈)

116. 駒:

     (MC reading: 駒 (MC kju))

117. 驅: spur a horse on; expel, drive away

     (eumhun reading: 몰 구 (mol gu))
     (MC reading: 驅 (MC khju|khjuH))

118. 鬮:

     (MC reading: 鬮 (MC kjuw|kjiwX))

119. 鳩:

     (MC reading: 鳩 (MC kjuw))

120. 鷇:

     (MC reading: 鷇 (MC khuwH))

121. 鷗:

     (MC reading: 鷗 (MC 'uw))

122. 鸜:

     (MC reading: 鸜 (MC gju))

123. 鼽:

     (MC reading: 鼽 (MC xwoj|gjuw))

124. 龜:

     (MC reading: 龜 (MC kwij|kjuw))